Male senior captains from all 68 inter-county Gaelic football and hurling teams have called on the GAA to support female players in their campaign to seek improved standards of welfare.

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have today released an open letter from the male captains, where they express support on behalf of their teams for the recent stance taken by ladies football and camogie sides.

Ladies football and camogie panels had announced in recent weeks that they would play the rest of the 2023 championship ‘under protest’, as the players have been outlining their grievances for some time.

Protests have been taking place before championship matches as players are unhappy with delays on the part of the LGFA, Camogie Association and GAA to develop a charter that would improve working conditions in terms of expenses, welfare and the administration of their games.

In the statement from the GPA, the male captains state that "we, the 68 captains of the male senior inter-county teams, want to express our full support for our female colleagues and stand beside them #UnitedForEquality."

 

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The statement continues - "We are asking you to work with the Camogie Association, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association and the Gaelic Players Association to discuss the steps necessary towards providing the minimum standards of welfare and care for female players for 2024. They cannot be expected to wait any longer.

"We do not accept that this is a matter solely for the two female governing bodies which is the response you have given to date. Among the GAA's values is that of Community Identity. Community is at the heart of our Association.

"Are you going to live that value of community, or will you allow this opportunity for positive change to pass us by? In the GAA we know and love, there would only be one answer to that question."

Women's GAA has started to receive some of the attention it has earned in recent years, with funding and viewing figures increasing. Sports Minister Catherine Martin announced yesterday that she will seek "significant" additional funding for women's sports in the upcoming budget negotiations, which is expected to include additional funding for women's GAA.